Ember's lungs burned from exertion as she ran through the dark streets, blindly darting between houses and through backyards. Macabre faces of goblins and ghouls stared out at her from every doorstep and window. There was nowhere to turn, to hide where some glowing decoration wouldn't reveal her position.

Haunting music came from a home somewhere near. The loud creaking of a door, recorded to scare young trick-or-treaters, made her heart race.

Even though Rick stayed behind, he couldn't buy her much time. Two against one were never good odds. She kept running. Her heart pounded in her chest, her lungs ached with the effort to breathe and her body trembled with exertion. Stopping, Ember attempted to gather her bearings.

The mournful howl of a wolf, closely followed by another, mixed with the frightening music. Thick fog crept over the ground, covering the

landscape, hiding the approach of anything near.

Finally making a decision, Ember turned and ran toward the woods, hoping to make it to the stream nearby where the water could mask her scent.

This wasn't the first time they hunted her and, she was sure, it wouldn't be the last. If they caught her, they would do unspeakable things and she'd be powerless to stop them. She would be theirs for another twelve long months of captivity before she could attempt another escape.

She splashed into the water just moments before a large, black wolf broke through the trees followed by two more. They sniffed the air near the stream and howled at the moon.

Staying hidden in the shadows, Ember lifted her feet, letting the water carry her downstream as they circled the bank, their noses pressed to the ground. She watched two of them shift shape beneath the silvery light of the full moon.

Their bodies were perfect. Tall and muscular, they exuded masculinity and animal magnetism. Ember snorted at that thought and brought her hand up to her mouth to cover the sound. Water splashed as her arm broke the surface, drawing the attention of the leader.

"C'mere, little girl. Come see the big bad wolf. I don't want to hurt you. I just want to eat you." His deep voice carried through the night. Ember was unsure if it was the slight Germanic accent that gave her chills or the cool water that caused the gooseflesh to rise on her skin and make her shiver.

She cast her gaze about, looking for a place to hide. It was only a matter of time before they found her. Ember knew what they wanted. It was what they always wanted when they found her. She trembled with a mixture of anticipation and dread. She eluded them for a long time, this time. Her punishment would remain the same—another year of captivity.

The sound of splashing water was Ember's only warning before warm hands closed over her shoulders, holding her in place. If she was stronger, she could have gotten away, but they kept her weak. Now she was theirs again. She'd been so busy watching the men search the bank, she forgot about the one that neglected to shift back into his human form.

"Gotcha." Warm breath fanned her cheek and she couldn't stop the shiver of anticipation that tore through her.

Every year she escaped and they pursued her. Each time they thought up some new way to torment her. No matter how hard she tried, there was no escape. Just as there was no escaping the relentless ache between her legs.

"You gave us a merry chase, Ember." Nathaniel scowled down at her, his eyes glowing red through the moonlight. Silvery light glinted on blue-black hair as he grabbed her. "I don't know why you continue to run from us every year when you know what will happen."

Ember did know what would happen if she escaped. She knew it, yet she had to try. Every year her instincts took over and she saw them as enemies on this day. Nervously, she licked her lips, then nodded and met his gaze, her chin held high. "I know what will happen. I know you will pursue me and you'll punish the part of me that runs from you. It's in my nature. You know this. I couldn't stop running from you anymore than you could deny yourself the pursuit."

They surrounded her. Their body heat seeped into her pores, giving her a rush of energy. They only gave her a little. Just enough to sate the unholy demon inside her that sought to drain the lifeforce from unsuspecting humans.

Ember's monster basked in the flood of energy they gave her, then gasped when Nate reached down and palmed her suddenly naked mound, two fingers delving deep into her already dripping sex.

"You're almost ready for us." He smiled, then turned to his companions. "Did you find a suitable spot?"

"We did."

Ember sighed at the sound of Rick's voice. She knew it was only a matter of time before her power wore off and he came to his senses. Part of her was glad. She'd forced his compliance before. Now he would stand with the others for her punishment.

"Good," Nate replied. "Lead us there and tie her up. You know this won't work if her monster doesn't believe she's forced."

She didn't have a choice. She'd never had one. Her body, her very nature, made the choice for her. She was just as much a slave to the monster inside her as she was to the three men who hunted her down and stole her will once a year.

William pulled out a rope or perhaps it was a vine. Taking her hands in his, he tied her to a branch about chest high as Rick pressed her shoulders from behind and forced her to the ground. Ember strained upward to keep her weight off her wrists as the men stood looking down at her.

"She looks so beautiful like that, tied up and at our mercy. It makes me wish we could do this more than once a year." Will loved when she was weak and open to them. He never denied the thrill of dominating her.

"Once a year is enough for me if it keeps her from leaving us." Rick moved to stand in front of her, his hand stroking the length of his hard shaft.

Ember licked her lips and wondered which one of them would fuck her mouth this time. "Get on with it already." She growled as the monster struggled to pull more energy from them.

Nate grabbed her hair, sending darts of sensual pain through her nerve endings, straight to her groin. He clucked his tongue. "Shame on you. You know better than to try to suck us dry. It only wears you down more."

The part of her that was still human rejoiced that they wouldn't let the monster win. "Take me already and stop flapping your damned lips." She bared her teeth.

"You heard the lady." Nathaniel moved closer.

She loved that about them. They knew what she needed to keep the monster away and they never thought less of her for it.

Warm hands cupped and lifted her breasts from behind as Nate continued his exploration of her nether flesh. Two long fingers swept past her labia, sinking deep into her channel.

Ember gasped with relief. She'd soon get what she needed to stay human for another year. "Hurry." She panted as Nate fucked his fingers in and out of her.

Nate shook his head. "You know I can't." Slowly he pulled his fingers from her flesh and her inner muscles clamped down in a futile effort to hold them inside her. Turning his glowing eyes to the sky, he stepped back.

Will knelt in front of her and gave her a crooked smile as he leaned closer. She knew he planned to kiss her and her monster rejoiced.

"No kissing!" Nate yanked back on Will's hair. "You know better! The monster must feel forced."

Will shook his head. "Sorry. Something came over me for a minute."

Ember tested her bonds. The monster was furious, but it was also weak. It spent the last of its energy in the effort to coax a kiss from William.

"Prepare her."

She loved that about Nate. No matter how hard lust rode him or how dangerous her monster became, he never failed to protect her human body.

Will lowered his head to her breasts, alternately suckling them as Rick cupped and massaged them from behind.

Warmth pooled deep in her middle. Tendrils of desire winged through her system. Groaning, she wriggled, again testing her bonds.

The sting of a sharp slap on her bottom made her gasp and her eyes went wide.

"Stay still," Rick growled in her ear.

Her human listened, but her monster howled with rage.

Will lifted her knees over his shoulders. His mouth on her flesh was like magic and Ember screamed. He wasted no time. His tongue delved through her slick flesh, his lips and teeth clamping around her throbbing clit like a vice, sending her quickly over the edge. Ember's orgasm rode her hard, washing over her in waves of intense sensation.

Behind her, Rick's fingers delved deep into her channel and brought her body's natural lubrication to her back hole. He spread her juices over her anus, sinking first one, then two fingers deep into her tight ass. There would be no third finger. Her monster needed pain to know she had little choice in the matter. Besides, at least a part of her human self looked forward to the pain.

"Ready or not, here I come." Nate sank to his knees in front of her as Will moved away. Grabbing her hips, Nate lifted her over his hard cock and ruthlessly dropped her upon it. She screamed as the thick shaft drove through her wet folds, dragging across nerve endings and sending her over into another climax.

Behind her, Rick pushed into her ass. Pleasure-pain rocked her as his hard cock stretched her relentlessly. Every inch he pressed into her tight ass drove the monster further away. Just as Rick seated himself fully into her ass, William grabbed her hair and pulled her head back. He stood over her, looking down, his eyes glowing red through the darkness. "Suck my cock."

His fingers against her scalp, pulling her hair, sent jolts of desire straight to her core. Need coiled around her, through her, as they continued their ruthless assault. The monster, finally overcome, receded, taking just enough energy to make another appearance next Halloween.

As she relaxed, their strokes became gentle, more loving, until tears filled her eyes. Ember couldn't believe the love they felt for her.

Rick and Nathaniel worked out a perfect alternate rhythm, one entering as the other withdrew. Will's hands gentled. He coaxed her to suck his cock instead of demanding it. The red in his eyes receded as her monster left her to rest.

Ember knew it was past midnight. Still, her men continued to shaft in and out of her as their need built together. Their desire racheted higher as their cocks drove into her body, raking unmercifully against sensitive nerve endings.

Ember, fully human again, found another release. Her muscles clamped down and she groaned. The vibration in her throat sent Will over the edge.

Her three men spent themselves inside her. Feeding her monster their pure energy and her human side their love. Leaning down, they each pressed a kiss against her skin.

"The monster is gone for another year, but it still lurks within me." Tears filled her eyes at the admission.

"Not to worry, love." Nate pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Our love will kill it one day."

Ember hoped that one day their love would kill the monster within. But for now, it was enough to know it was sated until the next All-Hallows-Eve.